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Latest Forum Threads in Projects and DesignsenMon, 30 Mar 2015 09:58:21 GMTJive SBS 4.5.4.0 (http://jivesoftware.com/products/clearspace/)2015-03-30T09:58:21ZenQuestion for Motorcycle Enthusiastshttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/20464
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:28dc42de-8238-4c1c-baba-378fcfd29ef7] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>Correct me if I'm wrong but, as the engine revs faster, the output of the alternator is greater so the more energy the shunt regulator has to dissipate more energy. This would cause a lot of wasted power into heat right. AFAIK, motorcycles generally ise 3 phase alternators and a reg/rectifier. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Why does it need to be shunted?</span></p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:28dc42de-8238-4c1c-baba-378fcfd29ef7] -->alternatorMon, 30 Mar 2015 09:58:21 GMTnoreply@digikey.comhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/204642015-03-30T09:58:21Z1 day, 12 hours ago10Spark Core Development Board for Solenoid Controlhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/20461
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:f9cb551f-dfd0-4e9c-bfd3-8e100c7438dd] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>Has anyone ever used a Spark Core development board? The basic function of the project is to control a few solenoids that changes air flow in an enclosed space. This solenoid needs to be controlled with the 3.3 v logic from the board.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Any tutorials on this dev board you know that i might find useful? </p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:f9cb551f-dfd0-4e9c-bfd3-8e100c7438dd] -->controlcoreboardsparksolenoiddevMon, 30 Mar 2015 04:06:02 GMTnoreply@digikey.comhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/204612015-03-30T04:06:02Z1 day, 18 hours ago10Looking for Sensor for a Motion Detection Applicationhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/20360
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:700adafc-ba7a-4122-952c-f85bf4529c1d] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>I'm not sure if this would fall under <em>motion </em>or<em> distance </em>measurement, since we would need to detect a forward/backward motion only. The sensor is positioned to face one side of the mechanism that will be moving, so the sensor will only be <em>seeing</em> one face at all times, that's why I'm thinking that the sensor is for distance not motion.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Anyhow, I've no experience with distance sensing, and I'm not even sure there are available products out there that would fit my needs.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>The moving arm is contained in a small space, so the sensor should be small, and should not make contact to the moving part. The motion is not uniform, and are frequent; close to hundreds of motions per minute.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Anyone have any ideas?</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:700adafc-ba7a-4122-952c-f85bf4529c1d] -->sensormotiondistanceThu, 19 Mar 2015 03:18:48 GMTnoreply@digikey.comhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/203602015-03-19T03:18:48Z5 days, 13 hours ago210Arduino Pulse Amplificationhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/20352
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:9b92cf34-4524-48af-bba4-0fd9ee18127c] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>From this <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/SecretsOfArduinoPWM">webpage</a>, I've just learned that you can an Arduino to generate pulses, and have quite a lot of control over it. So, what we need to do now is to control the outpit levels. We would need to amplify the pulse&#160; to certain levels. There are several levels that we need to implement this in, say, test it at 5, 10, 12, 15V etc etc. </p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Now, what is the best way that we can toggle the amplification of the output signal?</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Or, if anyone can link a similar application, that would be great. Thanks!</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:9b92cf34-4524-48af-bba4-0fd9ee18127c] -->arduinopulseamplificationWed, 18 Mar 2015 10:04:23 GMTnoreply@digikey.comhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/203522015-03-18T10:04:23Z5 days, 14 hours ago210Float Switches and Liquid Level Detectionhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/20351
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:0c4ef3a0-31ae-4a43-aaae-5ee739a56f86] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>We are doing a little control testing for a liquid in a contained space. The liquid needs to be at a certain level to set of the control. We were adviced to use a float switch, since it looks like this is where it is usually used: measuring liquid levels.&#160; </p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>I've never used one before, but I have a few questions for anyone who has used or is familiar with these things. How does the switch detect the level? Is it mechanical in nature? Like it 'floats' to a certain height and that's when the switching occurs?&#160; </p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Also, if I were to not use a float switch, what other techniques for level triggering could I use? We had one before with exposed conductors to the liquid, and current would flow once the liquid would touch both exposed conductors. But I don't want to use that again, and I don't really think that is a good design.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Thanks for your input!</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:0c4ef3a0-31ae-4a43-aaae-5ee739a56f86] -->switchlevelfloatliquiddetectorWed, 18 Mar 2015 09:51:58 GMTnoreply@digikey.comhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/203512015-03-18T09:51:58Z5 days, 17 hours ago210Adding Delay to a Signal Using Logic Gateshttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/20342
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:dc522bbc-f930-4e73-9267-7089e5233ecc] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>First of is how do you add delays using gates? What component should I use? </p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>What we need to do is to create a cascade of gates that will each add a certain length delay. We would then have a switch to select at which delay the output should be read. So the output will be</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Also, will all these gates somehow deteriorate the signal?</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Cheers!</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:dc522bbc-f930-4e73-9267-7089e5233ecc] -->delaylogicgatesTue, 17 Mar 2015 07:04:24 GMTnoreply@digikey.comhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/203422015-03-17T07:04:24Z5 days, 17 hours ago210Step Up a Programmable Power Supplyhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/20401
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:1ada20fa-be3e-4b4a-9e1a-97b5c18de6d9] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>Aside from buying a new PS, what is the easiest way to step up the output of my PPS, which has a max capacity of 300VAC, to 600VAC. I would like to maintain the frequencies that I use, so there is no issue there.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Thanks for your time.</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:1ada20fa-be3e-4b4a-9e1a-97b5c18de6d9] -->powersupplyWed, 25 Mar 2015 07:09:04 GMTnoreply@digikey.comhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/204012015-03-25T07:09:04Z6 days, 14 hours ago10Reading Battery Level While Using IT - MCUhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/20400
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:91663160-3717-492a-9ed3-0ac996d768dc] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>Hello there!</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>I have an Arduino, connected to a battery that is powering the mcu as well as an small LCD that is connected to it for a small float level monitor that we are working on. We would like to display the current level of the battery as well on the LCD so that we will know when the battery needs replacing as this is a sort of an isolated space.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>What would be the best way to do this? Would we need to connect another circuit to the battery? And how would this affect the lifespan?</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Any advice or similar projects you can link here would be rgreat!</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:91663160-3717-492a-9ed3-0ac996d768dc] -->batterymcudisplayWed, 25 Mar 2015 04:08:11 GMTnoreply@digikey.comhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/204002015-03-25T04:08:11Z6 days, 17 hours ago10Theoretical Maximum Signals an Antenna can Receivehttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/20391
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:b12c2205-ea0c-4943-be12-bff8b1621037] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>So the basic workings of an antennsa is that the signal it receives is converted into an electrical signal that is then processed by your TV, or radio or whatever, right? </p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Is there a maximum number of signals that an antenna can 'receive' at a time? Or am I wrong and the antenna can process only one at a time? </p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>I mean, of course it is receiving more than one signal, but, say can two radios, have one antenna, but process two or more different frequencies?</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:b12c2205-ea0c-4943-be12-bff8b1621037] -->antennafrequencyTue, 24 Mar 2015 10:00:34 GMTnoreply@digikey.comhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/203912015-03-24T10:00:34Z1 week, 12 hours ago10Controlling Mouse Motion with a MCUhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/20390
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:1723b4e5-76e0-4470-a58d-e65503b7b17e] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>I'd like to control the motion of my mouse through input that is evaluated by a Microcontroller?</p><p>How do I interface the MCU to a PC so that it can communicate the instructions with how I want to move the cursor.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>I'd like to process different types of data/motion and convert them in a way that the computer might understand to move the cursor. If anyone can offer any advice that would be great. Also, if anyone has come across similar projects, do link them here. Thanks!</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:1723b4e5-76e0-4470-a58d-e65503b7b17e] -->mousemotionTue, 24 Mar 2015 07:45:27 GMTnoreply@digikey.comhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/203902015-03-24T07:45:27Z1 week, 14 hours ago10Basic Project for Testing GSRhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/20281
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:7ba53f1f-42e3-48a8-b7a4-b1bbe12cf398] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>GSR is Galvanic Skin Response, and it's supposed to be the change in the electrical properties of the skin due to sweat and other natural causes. Before, we tried to do this project with op-amps where we measured GSR on the palms. It wasn't very successful, as you might imagine.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>We are trying to do something like that again, but this time a bit more sensitive and hopefully functional. We would like to measure heart rate, skin conductance, among other things. Has anyone here tried to do a similar project with GSR?</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:7ba53f1f-42e3-48a8-b7a4-b1bbe12cf398] -->galvanicresponseskinTue, 10 Mar 2015 09:49:58 GMTnoreply@digikey.comhttps://www.digikey.com/techxchange/thread/202812015-03-10T09:49:58Z1 week, 4 days ago210